Somerset Space Walk & Maunsel Locks

The Somerset Space Walk at Maunsel Locks on the Bridgewater & Taunton Canal cleverly demonstrates just how insignificant our planet is within the vastness of the universe.

Designed by the astronomer Pip Youngman in 1997, it challenges our perceptions of space formed from printed maps and diagrams. The truth is, if you represented the planets at their correct sizes they would be such small dots on the page that you couldn't see them.

The Somerset Space Walk uses the linear towpath of the canal to display a model of the sun, its planets and our nearest other star in their proportionally correct sizes and distances apart. Starting from the model of the sun at Maunsel you can walk six miles in either direction to uncover the models of the other planets. There is a pub just before Pluto, if you take the direction towards Taunton. Canal cruises are available. More information on the Space Walk: 01823 330665.

Not far away are the gardens at Hestercombe (01823 413923), designed by Gertrude Jekyll and Sir Edwyn Lutyens, and open to the public all year round.

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